Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T04:46:16.110Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The College of Cardinals Under Honorius III: A Nepotistic Household?*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 January 2016

Thomas W. Smith*
Affiliation:
Royal Holloway, University of London

Extract

The College of Cardinals constituted the innermost circle of the medieval papal household – arguably one of the most important households in Christendom – whose influence was sought by envoys pursuing diplomatic affairs and petitioners looking to secure grace and justice. The relationships between the pope and the cardinals of his household, and of the household with those outside the papal curia, were integral to the operation of papal government. The college consulted with the pope on matters of politics and everyday church administration, and its specific roles included the election of new popes, the concession of privileges, auditing legal cases heard at the papal curia, deployment of its members as legates a latere, and the administration of important curial departments. Although the pope could not dismiss existing cardinals, it was the personal prerogative of the reigning pope to select clergy for appointment to this elite household, although his decisions seem to have been subject to ratification by the existing members of the college, whose exact level of involvement in appointments remains unclear.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Ecclesiastical History Society 2014

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

*

I wish to express my gratitude to Barbara Bombi, Sarah Foot, Bernard Hamilton, Christopher Tilley and the editors of Studies in Church History for commenting on this essay.

References

1 Ullmann, Walter, A Short History of the Papacy in the Middle Ages, 2nd edn (London, 2003), 232;Google Scholar Jugie, Pierre, ‘Cardinal (jusqu’au concile de Trente)’, in Levillain, Philippe, ed., Dictiontiaire historique de la papauté (Paris, 2003), 27781, at 2778;Google Scholar Morris, Colin, The Papal Monarchy: The Western Church from 1050 to 1250, OHCC (Oxford, 1989), 570.Google Scholar

2 Ullmann, Papacy, 232; Morris, Papal Monarchy, 210; Robinson, I. S., The Papacy 1073-1198: Continuity and Innovation (Cambridge, 1990), 457.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

3 Vatican City, Archivio Segreto Vaticano, Registra Vaticana [hereafter: Reg. Vat.] 10, fol. 171v; Regesta Hotwrii Papae III, ed. Pressutti, P., 2 vols (Rome, 1888–95; repr. Hildesheim, 1978), no. 2392.Google Scholar

4 Schimmelpfennig, Bernhard, The Papacy, transl. Sievert, James (New York, 1992), 175.Google Scholar The most recent German edition maintains this argument: idem, Das Papsttum: Von der Antike bis zur Renaissance, 6th edn, rev. Goez, Elke (Darmstadt, 2009), 1967.Google Scholar

5 Morris, Papal Monarchy, 570.

6 Schimmelpfennig, Papacy, 175.

7 Ibid.

8 Carocci, Sandro, II nepotismo nel medioevo: Papi, cardinali e famiglie nobili (Rome, 1999), 116.Google Scholar

9 Carocci, Sandro and Vendittelli, Marco, ‘Onorio III.’, in Simonetti, Manlio et al., eds, Enciclopedia dei papi, 3 vols (Rome, 2000), 2: 35062, at 3501;Google Scholar Maleczek, Werner, Papst und Kardinalskolleg von 1191 bis 1216: Die Kardinàle unter Coelestin III. und Innocenz III. (Vienna, 1984), 11112;Google Scholar Le Liber Censuum de l’Église Romaine, ed. Fabre, P., Duchesne, L. and Mollat, G., 3 vols (Paris, 1889–1952), 1: 2.Google Scholar

10 Maleczek, , Kardinalskolleg, 112 Google Scholar.

11 Thumser, Matthias, Rom und der römische Adel in der spáten Staujerzeit (Tübingen, 1995) 601;Google Scholar Carocci, Nepotismo, 117.

12 de Vitry, Jacques, Lettres de la Cinquième Croisade, ed. Huygens, R. B. C., transl. Duchet-Suchaux, G. (Turnhout, 1998), 24;Google Scholar see also Sayers, Jane. E., Papal Government and England during the Pontificate of Honorius III (1216-1227) (Cambridge, 1984), 1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

13 Maleczek, , Kardinalskolleg, 112.Google Scholar

14 Maleczek, KardinalskoIIeg; idem, ‘Zwischen lokaler Verankerung und universalem Horizont: Das Kardinalskollegium unter Innocenz III.’, in Innocenzo III: Urbs et Orbis, Atti del Congresso Internazionale Roma, 9-15 settembre 1998, ed. Andrea, Sommerlechner, 2 vols (Rome, 2003), 1: 10274 Google Scholar; Bagliani, Agostino Paravicini, Cardinali di curia e ‘familiae’ cardinalizie dal 1227 al 1254, 2 vols (Padua, 1972).Google Scholar

15 For a full list, see Maleczek, , Kardinalskolleg, 5962.Google Scholar Maleczek counted twenty-three cardinals on Innocent III’s death: ibid. 288. Robinson counted twenty-seven: Robinson, Papacy, 44.

16 Maleczek, , Kardinalskolleg, 2878.Google Scholar

17 For Celestine’s five appointments, see ibid. 111-24.

18 Ibid. 293.

19 Ibid. 293-4. On Innocent III’s household, see, in this volume, Brenda Bolton, ‘“A faithful and wise servant”? Innocent III (1198-1216) looks at his Household’, 59-73.

20 Maleczek, , Kardinalskolleg, 2945.Google Scholar

21 Ibid. 295.

22 Alphonsus Ciaconius, Vitae, et res gestae ponlificum romanorum et S.R.E. cardinaliumm, ed. Oldoinus, Augustus, 4 vols (Rome, 1677), 2: 4366.Google Scholar

23 Cardella, Lorenzo, Memorie storiche de’ cardinali della santa romana chiesa, 9 vols (Rome, 1792–7), 1/2: 23243.Google Scholar

24 Clausen, Johannes, Papst Honorius III. (1216-1227): Eine Adonographie (Bonn, 1895), 3978.Google Scholar

25 Eubel, Conrad, Hierarchia catholica medii aevi, 2nd edn, 6 vols (Münster, 1913–58), 1: 5.Google Scholar

26 Ibid. 5.

27 Thumser, Matthias, ‘Aldobrandino Orsini (1217-1221), ein Kardinal Honorius’ III.’, Römische Historische Mitteilungen 32/33 (1990/1), 419, at 42 and n. 5;Google Scholar Neininger, Falko, Konrad von Urach († 1227): Zähringer, Zisterzienser, Kardinallegat (Paderborn, 1994), 159 Google Scholar. In 1217 Honorius also promoted four cardinals created by Celestine III and Innocent III: Bertrand from cardinal deacon of S. Giorgio in Velabro to cardinal priest of SS. Giovanni e Paolo; John Colonna from cardinal deacon of SS. Cosma e Damiano to cardinal priest of S. Prassedes; Cinthius from cardinal priest of S. Lorenzo in Lucina to cardinal bishop of Porto and S. Rufina; and Peter Collivaccinus of Benevento from cardinal priest of S. Lorenzo in Damaso to cardinal bishop of Sabina. In 1221 Honorius promoted Guido Pierleoni from cardinal deacon of S. Nicola in Carcere Tulliano to cardinal bishop of Preneste: Maleczek, Kardinalskolleg, 170, 158, 106, 174, 141 respectively. They are not recorded as having had special connections to Honorius.

28 Reg. Vat. 9, fol. 201v (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, no. 1015); ET Vincent, Nicholas: The Letters and Charters of Cardinal Guala Bicchieri, Papal Legate in England, 1216-1218 (Woodbridge, 1996), lxxiii, 1445 (no. 177)Google Scholar; John Doran kindly brought this reference to my attention.

29 Thumser, ‘Aldobrandino’, 44-6.

30 Carocci, Sandro, Baroni di Roma: Dominazioni signorili e lignaggi aristocratici nel duecento e nel primo trecento (Rome, 1993), 3878;Google Scholar Doran, John, ‘A Lifetime of Service in the Roman Church’, in idem and Smith, Damian. J., eds, Pope Celestine III (1191-1198): Diplomat and Pastor (Farnham, 2008), 3179, at 78.Google Scholar

31 Reg.Vat. 9, fol. I27v (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, no. 458); Thumser, ‘Aldobrandino’, 48.

32 Reg. Vat. 11, fol. 107r (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, no. 3241).

33 Regesta, ed. Pressutti, nos 1177, 2095, 2096; Acta Honorii III (1216-1221) et Grcgorii IX (1227-1241) e registris vaticanis aliisque fontibus collegit, ed. Tautu, A. L. (Vatican City, 1950), 989 (no. 69).Google Scholar

34 Reg. Vat. 10, fols 145v–146r, 152v (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, nos 2279, 2286); Ganzer, Klaus, Die Entwicklung des auswärtigen Kardinalats im hohen Mittelalter: Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte des Kardinalkollegiums vom 11. bis 13. Jahrhundert (Tübingen, 1963), 165.Google Scholar

35 Thumser, , ‘Aldobrandino’, 47.Google Scholar

36 Eubel, , Hierarchia, 5.Google Scholar

37 Regesta, ed. Pressutti, nos 723, 1479, 1533, 1556, 2064, 2851, 3212, 3436, 3794, 4029, 4081, 4809, 4981, 5011, 5261, 5614, 5798, 6138, 6206, 6211.

38 Reg. Vat. 9, fol. 249 (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, no. 1277).

39 Reg. Vat. 10, fols 43v, 46 (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, nos 1781, 1798).

40 Reg.Vat. 10, fol. 92v (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, no. 2055).

41 Reg.Vat. 10, fol. 173r (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, no. 2405).

42 Eubel, Hierarchia, 5; Neininger, Konrad, 157.

43 Neininger, Konrad, 64.

44 Ibid. 75.

45 Honorius III, Opera omnia, ed. Horoy, C. A., 5 vols (Paris, 1879–82), 3: 373;Google Scholar Regesta, ed. Pressutti, no. 2301; Neininger, Konrad, 64.

46 Reg.Vat. 12, fols 183, 183v–184r (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, nos 4903, 4904); Neininger, Konrad, 64.

47 Reg. Vat. 12, fol. 178v (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, nos 4921, 4922); Neininger, Konrad, 207.

48 Eubel, Hierarchia, 5, not to be confused with his predecessor as cardinal bishop of Tusculum (1204-18/19), also named Nicholas.

49 Neininger, Konrad, 157.

50 Ibid. 159.

51 Letters, ed. Vincent, , lxxxvi, 11012 (no. 142);Google Scholar Zutshi, Patrick, ‘Petitioners, Popes, Proctors: The Development of Curial Institutions, c. 1150-1250’, in Andenna, Giancarlo, ed., Pensiero e sperimentazioni istituzionali nella ‘Societas Christiana’ (1046-1250) (Milan, 2007), 26593, at 277 and n. 51;Google Scholar see also Göller, Emil, Die pæpstliche Põnilentiarie: Von ihrem Ursprung bis zu ihrer Umgestaltung unter Pius V, 2 vols (Rome, 1907–11), 1: 82–3, 86, 131.Google Scholar

52 Reg. Vat. 9, fol. 176r (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, no. 493).

53 Stendardi, Attilio, ‘Casamari’, in Vauchez, André, Dobson, Barrie and Lapidge, Michael, eds, Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages, 2 vols (Cambridge, 2000), 1: 2478, at 247.Google Scholar

54 Reg. Vat. II, fols 37v, 166 (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, nos 276, 3581); Opera, ed. Horoy, 4: 492-3 (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, no. 4646).

55 Regesta, ed. Pressutti, nos 2043, 2204, 4447, 4562, 5449, 5639, 6000.

56 Reg. Vat. 10, fol. 131v (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, no. 2201).

57 Reg. Vat. 10, fol. I40v (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, no. 2261).

58 Eubel, Hierarchia, 5; Maleczek, Werner, Petrus Capuanus: kardinal, Legat am vierten Kreuzzug, Theologe († 1214) (Vienna, 1988), 282.Google Scholar

59 Maleczek, Petrus, 62.

60 Ibid. 51; family tree ibid. 313-18.

61 Ibid. 281-2; Eubel, Hicrarchia, 93.

62 Maleczek, Petrus, 281.

63 Reg. Vat. 10, fols 86r, 152r (Regesta, ed. Pressutti, nos 2031, 2285); Ganzer, Entwicklung, 165.

64 Regesta, ed. Pressutti, nos 2321, 3449, 3793, 6232; Maleczek, Petrus, 282.

65 Eubel, Hierarchia, 5; Hoogeweg, H., ed., Die Schriften des kölner Domsclwlasters, späleren Bischofs von Paderborn und Kardinal-Bischofs von S. Sabina (Tübingen, 1894), 1.Google Scholar

66 Regesta, ed. Pressutti, no. 6235.

67 Andenna, Giancarlo and Bombi, Barbara, eds, I cristiani e il favoloso egitto: una relazione dall’Oriente e la storia di damietta di Oliviero da Colonia, Verso l’Oriente 4 (Milan, 2009), 1314;Google Scholar Hiestand, Rudolf, ‘Oliver Scholasticus und die Pariser Schulen zu Beginn des 13. Jahrhunderts: Zu einem neuen Textfund’, Jahrbuch des Kölnischen Geschichtsvereins 58 (1987), 134, at 12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

68 Hoogeweg, ed., Schriften, xlix.

69 Ibid.

70 See Vincent’s point regarding Innocent III’s creation of Guala Bicchieri: Letters, ed. Vincent, xxxiv.

71 Doran, ‘Lifetime’, 31-2.

72 Maleczek, Kardinalskolleg, 294. Innocent III, however, made considerable use of Cistercians to combat heresy in southern France: Moore, John. C., Pope Innocent III (1160/61-1216): To Root up and to Plant (Leiden, 2003), 1523.Google Scholar